The Illusion of Illusions

Scripture:
For these are rebellious people, deceitful children,
    children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.
They say to the seers,
    “See no more visions!”
and to the prophets,
    “Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,
    prophesy illusions.
Leave this way,
    get off this path,
and stop confronting us
    with the Holy One of Israel!”
Isaiah 30:9-11

Observation: This prophesy concerns God's people who do not want to listen to the truth. They place reliance on human endeavors and earthly strength, instead of placing their trust in God. Their greatest sin is in the refusal to listen to the correction and teaching - they don't want to hear the truth from the prophets, they want to instead instruct the prophet to quit confronting them with God. They want to hear pleasant lies, not harsh love. They want the hear illusions, and fail to recognize that doing so does not improve their lives, but instead it warrants their doom.

Application: As Isaiah talks about the downfall of Israel, the parallels to the world today are too obvious. There are large sections of the Church that are taking this exact position now - they no longer want to observe the message of the prophets written in the Bible, and instead want to find a different "path" that leads to harmony with the worldly culture. This is the reason I am no longer a member of the PCUSA - the denomination in which I was raised and in fact ordained as an elder, yet they chose a path that has taken them away from God's truth, and onto a path that focuses on only 'pleasant things'.

Ironically, it is this entire quote I see the members of many churches thinking. They know what is "right" but don't want to talk about it - no more visions of what is right! - and instead want their church experience to be about pleasant, happy things that help them enjoy life. After all, since God loves them, shouldn't he only want them to be joyful and happy when they learn about him?

Isaiah would say the opposite ... that these people are attempting to not be "confronted with" God. If you can't be confronted with God, then you can't know God. And if you can't know God, you can't have a relationship with God. Therefore, a healthy church - with thriving members - must be talking about the truth and the way that truth is juxtaposed against culture.

Prayer: Lord, I am so happy I am in a thriving church, as defined by this benchmark. While we seek to serve you and reach others in the name of Jesus, please protect Pastor Phil and our church leadership, keeping them focused on confronting our members with your truth every day. Show us you and your wisdom so we may know and serve you even more. Amen.